Global consolidated clearance methods and systems

Abstract

The present invention discloses systems and methods for automated consolidation of packages bound for international destinations. A first embodiment is disclosed for a client-side shipping application that automates the consolidation of packages and shipping of packages. In a second disclosed embodiment, the aggregation of like shipments occurs in one or more backend applications preferably residing on a service provider server. This will eliminate the need to produce and apply an over label for each package in the consolidated shipment. The first embodiment will address the elimination of the manual process of producing the address, over label and master invoice.

That which is claimed:  
     
         1 . A shipping system for shipping international packages, comprising: 
 a port of entry database; and    a consolidated clearance application, said consolidated clearance application configured to perform the steps of: 
 capturing shipment characteristics of a plurality of packages, wherein said shipment characteristics comprise an international destination and a consignee associated with each of said plurality of packages;  
 querying said port of entry database with at least one of said consignee and said international destination to assign a consolidated port of entry to each of said plurality of packages;  
 assigning each of said plurality of packages to a global consolidated shipment in accordance with a set of consolidation guidelines; and  
 generating global consolidated shipping labels for each of said plurality of packages.  
   
     
     
         2 . The shipping system of  claim 1 , wherein said consolidated clearance application is configured to generate a consignee address label and an over-label.  
     
     
         3 . The shipping system of  claim 2 , wherein said consignee address label and said over-label are printed on a single thermal stock.  
     
     
         4 . A computer readable substrate having a computer program saved thereupon, said computer program configured to perform the steps of: 
 capturing a first set of shipment characteristics that are associated with a first package that is bound for a first destination;    capturing a second set of shipment characteristics that are associated with a second package bound for a second destination;    aggregating said first and said second packages as a consolidated international shipment if said first and second sets of shipment characteristics satisfy a requirement for consolidated shipping;    associating a consolidated port of entry to said consolidated international shipment; and    generating a consignee address label and an over-label for said first and second packages.    
     
     
         5 . The computer program of  claim 4 , wherein said first set of shipment characteristics includes a first destination address and a first ship type.  
     
     
         6 . The computer program of  claim 5 , wherein said second set of shipment characteristics includes a second destination address and a second ship type.  
     
     
         7 . The computer program of  claim 6 , wherein said first and said second packages are aggregated as a consolidated international shipment if said first and second ship types identify said first and second packages as international shipments.  
     
     
         8 . The computer program of  claim 6 , wherein said first and said second packages are aggregated as a consolidated international shipment if said first and second ship types identify said first and second packages as international shipments and said first and second packages have a common importer of record.  
     
     
         9 . The computer program of  claim 4 , wherein said first and said second packages are aggregated as a consolidated international shipment if said first and second packages have international destinations, share a common importer of record and a common exporter.  
     
     
         10 . The computer program of  claim 4 , wherein said first and said second packages are aggregated as a consolidated international shipment if said first and second packages have international destinations and share at least one of a common importer of record, exporter and service level.  
     
     
         11 . The computer program of  claim 4 , wherein associating a consolidated port of entry to said consolidated international shipment comprises querying a port of entry table with at least one of a shipment type, shipment date, import date, service level, destination country and importer of record.  
     
     
         12 . The computer program of clam  4 , further configured to perform the step of associating at least one of summary shipment data, a master shipment identifier and a package tracking number with said consolidated international shipment.  
     
     
         13 . The computer program of  claim 4 , wherein the step of generating a consignee address label and an over-label for said first and second packages comprises generating said address label and said over-label on a single piece of stock.  
     
     
         14 . The computer program of  claim 4 , wherein said aggregation of said first and second packages into said consolidated shipment occurs as part of an end-of-day process.  
     
     
         15 . The computer program of  claim 4 , wherein said aggregation of said first and second packages into said consolidated shipment occurs as part of a closeout process.  
     
     
         16 . The computer program of  claim 4 , wherein a third package is consolidated with said first and second packages.  
     
     
         17 . The computer program of  claim 16 , wherein said over-label includes a count of packages included in said consolidated shipment.  
     
     
         18 . The computer program of  claim 4 , wherein said first and second packages are bound for different consignees located in different countries within the European Union.  
     
     
         19 . The computer program of  claim 4 , configured to perform the additional step of uploading said first and second sets of shipment characteristics to a service provider.  
     
     
         20 . The computer program of  claim 4 , further configured to perform the step of assigning a package tracking number to each package within said consolidated shipment.  
     
     
         21 . The computer program of  claim 4 , further configured to track said first and second packages and provide time-in-transit information